JP2005014535A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device enabling a user to surely acquire print result by accurately reporting a completion time of a print job to the user. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with an unprintable condition detecting part 21 for detecting the inexcutable printing condition caused by the interruption of the print job, a reserved job extracting part 27, which extracts a reserved print job without including the printing condition detected by the unprintable condition detecting part from attribute information of the succeeding and reserved print job, an end time re-predicting part 28, which re-predicts the processing end time of the predicted reserved print job to the extracted reserved print job, and an end time updating part 29, and an end time re-reporting part 30. When the processing end time predicted by the end time re-predicting part is different from the processing end time stored in a memory part 9, the end time updating part 29 updates the processing end time stored in the memory part to the processing end time predicted by the end time re-predicting part. The end time re-reporting part 30 reports the processing end ime updated by the end time updating part 29 to a specified addressee. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a composite function such as a copy function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, or a printer function for printing print data from a plurality of host devices connected via a network. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, composite copying apparatuses have been proposed that have a facsimile function using a copying machine as a facsimile terminal and a printer function using a copying machine as a printer terminal in addition to the original function of a copying machine that copies and prints an original.
[0003]
Also, a network printer that receives print requests from a plurality of clients connected to the network and performs printing according to the print requests is realized.
[0004]
These composite copying machines and network printers receive print jobs from users connected via a network or telephone line, or input jobs from the operation panel attached to the main body of the composite copying machine. Printing is performed according to the printing conditions.
[0005]
In such a complex copying apparatus, a single complex copying apparatus is often shared by a plurality of users. When the complex copying apparatus is executing a print job, it is received if another print job is received. Queue the print job as a reserved print job. If there is a reserved print job in advance, scheduling of the reserved print job is performed based on the respective execution priorities and the like, and printing is sequentially executed according to the determined schedule.
[0006]
However, in such a case, the user side who has input the print job does not know when the input print job is completed. For this reason, it was not possible to know when to get the output image. In addition, the user forgets to output and leaves the output image on the paper discharge tray for a long time, leading to confusion of output documents with other users, loss of output documents, leakage of information, and the like.
[0007]
To solve this problem, it is possible to specify the time when printing is completed when registering a print job, and when an event occurs that delays the schedule of a reserved print job, a print job that causes a delay in the schedule There has been proposed a multi-function copying machine that notifies the user of this fact (for example, Patent Document 1).
[0008]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-236184 A
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described conventional technique, when execution of a print job is delayed compared to the schedule, the user of the print job in which the delay occurs is notified to that effect. However, when the execution of the print job is earlier than scheduled, the user is not notified. For example, when the print job being executed or the pre-order print job is interrupted or canceled, the reserved print job subsequent to the interrupted or canceled print job is earlier than the processing end time that was initially predicted. Processing may end at the time. However, users who have reserved these print jobs are only notified of the processing end time that was initially predicted, but not the advance of processing of subsequent jobs due to interruption or cancellation of the preceding job. It was. For this reason, output documents from print jobs with increased processing time will be left on the output tray for a long time, resulting in confusion of output documents with other users, loss of output documents, leakage of information, etc. It was connected to.
[0010]
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that eliminates the above-described drawbacks of the prior art and enables the user to reliably acquire a print result by more accurately notifying the user of the completion time of the print job. For the purpose.
[0011]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operation efficiency by moving up the processing of subsequent print jobs that can be executed even when the print job being executed is interrupted. It is to be.
[0012]
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of improving the operation efficiency by moving up the processing of subsequent print jobs that can be executed even when the print job being executed is canceled. It is to be.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the invention of the present application is an image forming apparatus including at least one of an image copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and uses the function. Required time calculating means for calculating the time required for image printing based on attribute information created from the print conditions of the print job received together with the image data and the processing capability for the print conditions when the print job to be processed is received And an end time predicting means for predicting the processing end time of the received print job from the print time calculated by the required time calculating means and the status of the print job currently being printed or the print job reserved in advance. An end time storage means for storing the process end time predicted by the end time prediction means, and a process end predicted by the end time prediction means. In an image forming apparatus provided with a processing end time notification means for notifying a predetermined notification destination, a processing interruption detection means for detecting that a print job being processed is interrupted, and the processing interruption detection means When a print job interruption is detected, the print job interruption notification means for notifying the predetermined notification destination of the interruption of the print job and when the processing interruption detection means detects the interruption of the print job, the execution is executed. An unprintable condition detection unit for detecting an impossible print condition, and when the process interruption detection unit detects an interruption of a print job, the unprintable condition detection is performed from attribute information of a print job reserved in the subsequent process. A reserved job extracting unit that extracts a reserved print job that does not include the printing condition detected by the unit, and the predicted print job extracted by the reserved job extracting unit An end time re-prediction unit that re-predicts the processing end time of the reserved print job, and the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit is different from the processing end time stored in the end time storage unit In addition, the process end time stored in the end time storage means is updated to the process end time predicted by the end time re-prediction means, and the process end updated by the end time update means And an end time re-notification means for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the time.
[0014]
In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the invention of the present application is an image forming apparatus including at least one of an image copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function. Time required to calculate the time required to print an image based on attribute information created from the print conditions of the print job received together with the image data and the processing capacity for the print conditions when a print job to be processed is received End time prediction for predicting the processing end time of the received print job from the calculation means and the print time calculated by the required time calculation means and the status of the print job currently being printed or the print job reserved in advance Means, an end time storage means for storing the process end time predicted by the end time prediction means, and the end time prediction means predicted A print job cancel accepting means for accepting a cancel of a print job currently being processed or a print job reserved in advance in an image forming apparatus provided with a process end time notifying means for notifying a predetermined notice destination of a physical end time; An end time re-prediction unit that re-predicts the predicted processing end time of the print job for a subsequent print job by receiving cancellation of the print job reserved in advance by the print job cancel reception unit; When the process end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit is different from the process end time stored in the end time storage unit, the process end time stored in the end time storage unit is changed to the end time re-prediction unit. Predicted time update means for updating to the process end time predicted by the process, and the end time to notify the predetermined notification destination to that effect It is characterized in further comprising a change notifying means.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
First Embodiment Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The reader unit 1 reads a document image and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to the image processing unit 4. The printer unit 2 records an image corresponding to the image data from the image processing unit 4 on a recording sheet. An MMI (Man-Machine Interface) unit 3 is provided with keys for setting and starting operations such as copying and facsimile, and an LCD for displaying the status of the image forming apparatus. It is used when performing etc. Note that the image forming apparatus of this embodiment has a plurality of functions such as a facsimile function, a printer function, and a copy function.
[0016]
The image processing unit 4 is connected to the reader unit 1, the printer unit 2, and the MMI unit 3, and includes a facsimile unit 6, a network I / F unit 7, a formatter unit 8, a memory unit 9, a core unit 5, and the like. . The facsimile unit 6 decompresses the compressed image data received via the telephone line, transfers the decompressed image data to the core unit 5, compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 5, and connects the telephone line. A circuit that transmits the compressed image data through the network. The network I / F unit 7 is an interface circuit for connecting the image processing unit 4 to a network such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and a plurality of computers 10, 11, and 12 are connected to the network. The formatter unit 8 is a circuit that develops code data representing an image transferred from a computer connected to the network I / F unit 7 into image data that can be printed by the printer unit 2.
[0017]
Original image data read by the reader unit 1, image data processed by the facsimile unit 5, image data developed by the formatter unit 8, and the like are transferred to the memory unit 9 via the core unit 5. The unit 9 stores these image data together with attribute information associated with each print job. In addition to the image data, the memory unit 9 also stores various data necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus described later.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the core unit 5 according to the first embodiment. Image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the data processing unit 102, and a control command from the MMI unit 3 is transferred to the CPU 104. The data processing unit 102 performs image processing such as image rotation processing and scaling processing, and the image data transferred from the reader unit 1 to the data processing unit 102 is transferred to the control command transferred from the MMI unit 3. In response, the data is transferred to the facsimile unit 6, the network I / F unit 7, and the memory unit 9 via the I / F unit 101.
[0019]
Further, code data representing an image input via the network I / F unit 7 is transferred to the data processing unit 102, and then transferred to the formatter unit 8 to be developed into image data. Then, after being transferred again to the data processing unit 102, it is transferred to at least one of the facsimile unit 6, the printer unit 2, and the memory unit 9 in accordance with an instruction from a computer or the like. Image data from the facsimile unit 6 is transferred to the data processing unit 102 and then transferred to the printer unit 2 and, if necessary, to the network I / F unit 7 and the memory unit 9.
[0020]
The CPU 104 controls the above-described processing and a print job interruption processing described later according to a control program stored in the memory 105 and a control command transferred from the reader unit 1. As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment performs processing that combines functions such as document image reading, image printing, image transmission / reception, and data input / output from a computer, with the core unit 5 at the center. Things are possible.
[0021]
FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram for processing interruption of a print job of the image forming apparatus which is a main part of the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a print job is received from the computer 10, 11, 12, or the like, the attribute information created from the print condition of the print job received together with the image data, and the processing capability for the print condition From the required time calculation unit 21 that calculates the time required for image printing based on the print time, the print time calculated by the required time calculation unit 21, the status of the print job currently being printed and the print job reserved in advance, etc. The end time prediction unit 22 that predicts the processing end time of the received print job, the end time storage unit (memory unit 9) that stores the processing end time predicted by the end time prediction unit 22, and the end time prediction unit 22 predict An end time notifying unit 23 for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the processed end time, and a process interruption for detecting that a print job currently being processed is interrupted. When the output unit 24 and the process interruption detection unit 24 detect the interruption of the print job, the print job interruption notification unit 25 that notifies the predetermined notification destination that the print job is interrupted, and the process interruption detection When the unit 24 detects the interruption of the print job, the non-printable condition detection unit 26 that detects an unexecutable print condition, and when the processing interruption detection unit 24 detects the interruption of the print job, A reserved job extraction unit 27 that extracts a reserved print job that does not include the print condition detected by the unprintable condition detection unit 26 from the attribute information of the reserved print job, and a reserved print job extracted by the reserved job extraction unit 27 In contrast, the end time re-prediction unit 28 that re-predicts the processing end time of the predicted reserved print job, and the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit 28 are the end time storage unit (mesh The processing end time stored in the end time storage unit (memory unit 9) is set to the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit 28 when the processing end time is different from the processing end time stored in the processing unit 9). An update end time update unit 29 to be updated, an end time re-notification unit 30 for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the process end time updated by the end time update unit 29, and a process end time setting of a print job issuer described later When the processing end time is set by the unit 41, a printing time zone required for printing specified from the set processing end time and the printing time calculated by the required time calculating unit 21 is reserved in advance. Disable print job acceptance and notify the specified notification destination when print job processing overlaps with part or all of the print time period in which the print job is processed. And a notification unit 31.
[0022]
In addition, the computers 10, 11, and 12, which are print job issuers, set a process end time setting unit 41 that sets a process end time for a print job to be issued, and a print processing execution priority for the print job. And an execution priority setting unit 42 to be set.
[0023]
Next, the print job of this embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the print job is composed of image data to be printed and attribute information describing attributes for printing the image data, and the attribute information is stored in the memory unit 9 together with the image data. . An example of the attribute item described in this attribute information is shown in FIG. The attribute items are not limited to those shown in FIG.
[0024]
In FIG. 3, 101 is an ID for identifying a print job, and 102 is information for identifying a job issuer. A notification method for notifying the print end time of the print job is set in 103, and a destination for notification using the notification method defined in 103 is described in 104. For example, if the notification method is email, the destination is an email address, and if the notification method is facsimile communication, the destination is a facsimile number.
[0025]
Reference numeral 105 denotes information indicating the print execution priority of the print job. In this embodiment, the print execution priority is set to three levels, and the higher the numerical value, the higher the print execution priority. The present invention is not limited to these three stages, and may be two stages or four or more stages. Reference numeral 106 denotes information for image data corresponding to attribute information, in which a head address, image data amount, and the like in which image data is stored are set. 107 is the number of copies, 108 is information indicating the presence / absence of stapling (stapling processing of printed paper), 109 is information indicating the presence / absence of double-sided printing, and 110 is information indicating the size of the printing paper. 111 is information indicating whether or not the print end time of the print job is specified, and data of the specified time or data of the predicted print end time is set in 112. The predicted print end time will be described in detail later.
[0026]
The image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment prints the corresponding image data according to the printing conditions acquired by interpreting the attribute information. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a management time table for the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment to manage reserved print jobs. The management time table 150 corresponds to the job ID of the print job attribute information and the print time zone information (151 to 153) specified by the job start time and completion time. In this management time table 150, print jobs are described in the order of processing according to the print time zone information specified by the start time and completion time.
[0027]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation for performing processing at the time of reservation of a print job in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. The processing in FIG. 5 is executed by the CPU when a print job is received from a computer or the like outside the image forming apparatus. First, in step S11, information indicating image data to be printed and printing conditions is received. In step S12, print job attribute information is created from the printing conditions.
[0028]
In step S13, the output time of the print job is calculated. First, the processing time required for processing the print job is calculated from the image processing capability of the image forming apparatus and the print data attribute of the attribute information created in step S12. The print data attributes include the number of pages of print data, the number of copies of the print data, the presence / absence of stapling, and the presence / absence of double-sided printing. The parameters indicating the image processing capability include information such as a printing speed indicating how many pages can be printed within a predetermined time, and a RIP processing speed required for converting print data into a raster image (RIP processing). These are stored in the non-volatile memory of the device. Since the calculation method of the processing time of the print job is a publicly known matter, detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0029]
In step S14, it is determined whether a print end time is designated from the attribute information. If it is determined in step S14 that the print end time is not specified, the print job already registered is determined from the processing time and the predetermined margin time calculated in step S13 and the registration status of the management time table. A printing time zone (predicted printing start time and predicted printing end time) that does not affect the schedule is determined (step S15). The margin time includes the time required for the image forming apparatus to shift from a standby state to a printable state. In step S16, the predicted print end time is notified to the destination specified in the attribute information. In step S17, the print end time is set in the attribute information. In step S18, the step is performed on the management time table. A print job is registered in the area corresponding to the print start / end time determined in S15.
[0030]
If it is determined in step S14 that the print end time is specified, the print time zone required for printing is calculated from the output time calculated in step S13 and the specified print end time, and the calculated print time is calculated. It is determined whether or not the band overlaps with part or all of the print time band of the preceding job registered in the management time table (step S19). If it is determined in step S19 that there is no overlap with the preceding job, the process of step S18 is performed, and if it is determined that there is overlap with part or all of the preceding job, in step S20. Notifying the destination specified in the attribute information that the specification of the print end time has failed.
[0031]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation when a reserved print job is executed in the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. First, in step S31, the CPU checks whether a print job currently being printed has been interrupted. If it is determined in step S31 that the print job being printed has been interrupted, in step S32, the cause of the interruption of the job being printed and the functions that cannot be used due to the interruption of the print job are detected. . For example, if the cause of interruption is a jam in the duplex unit, the duplex printing function cannot be used, and if the cause of interruption is no recording paper, printing using the same paper source as the interrupted print job is not possible. It becomes.
[0032]
In step S33, a process for extracting a job to be advanced in the process of the subsequent reserved print job is performed. The job extraction process will be described later in detail. In step S34, the current time is read by a clocking means such as a clock IC provided in the apparatus, and in step S35, a print job to be started corresponding to the read current time is searched from the management time table. In step S36, it is determined whether or not there is a print job to be started by determining whether or not the print start time of the print job retrieved from the management time table matches the current time. If there is no print job to be started, the process returns to step S31.
[0033]
If there is a print job to be started, the process proceeds to step S37 to start print processing for the print job. In step S38, it is determined whether the printing process has been completed. If the printing process has been completed, the print job data is deleted from the management time table in step S39, and the process ends.
[0034]
Next, the job extraction process described above will be described. In this embodiment, six types of job extraction processes are used. The job extraction process will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
[0035]
First, as the first job extraction process, the operation of the image forming apparatus that excludes a print job with a process end time designation from the job advance target will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S100, the management time table is referenced to check whether there is a print job to be executed after the interrupted print job processing is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled for processing immediately after the suspended print job (step S101). In step S102, it is determined whether or not the job of interest can be executed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32 of FIG. If it is determined that the print job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S100 to check whether there is a print job to be executed immediately after the print job of interest. If there is a print job to be executed one after, the above-described processing is repeated with the target job as the next print job.
[0036]
If it is determined in step S102 that the process of the target job can be executed, in step S103, whether or not the process end time is specified is checked from the attribute information of the target job, and the process end time is specified. If it is determined that there is not, a rescheduling process (to be described later) is performed in step S104 to advance the execution order of the job of interest. Here, the rescheduling process is a scheduling process for efficiently using the vacant time in the management time table caused by the interruption of the print job for the execution of the subsequent reserved print job. This rescheduling process will be described later in detail. In step S105, as a result of the rescheduling process in step S104, it is determined that a change has occurred between the predicted print end time set in the attribute information of the job of interest and the print end time registered in the management time table. If it is determined that the predicted print end time of the attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is updated in accordance with the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S104 (step S106), this is indicated in the attribute information. Is notified to the notification destination set (step S107). The job extraction process shown in FIG.
[0037]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating print job rescheduling processing in the first job extraction processing. First, in step S200, the print job to be noticed as being subject to deferral is set as an interrupted job, and in step S201, the print job to be noticed is designated as a job to be deferred from the current execution schedule registered in the management timetable. Register at the end of the carry-down matrix. In this process when the interrupted job is a print job to which attention is paid, there is no print job registered in the carry-down matrix, so the first print job registered in the carry-down matrix is an interrupted job.
[0038]
In step S202, whether or not the print job to be advanced extracted in the job extraction process can be advanced, that is, from the current time until the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest starts printing. It is determined whether the time required is longer than the time required for the print job to be advanced. If it is determined in step S202 that the time required for the extracted print job is longer, in step S203, can the schedule be lowered for the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest? It is determined whether or not the processing of the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest includes the infeasible function detected in step S32 in FIG. If it is determined that the function is included (if it can be moved), in step S204, the print job scheduled to be executed next to the target print job is set as the target print job to be deferred. Return to S201. If it is determined in step S203 that the processing of the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest does not include an inexecutable function (if it cannot be moved), The print job that is scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest is not subject to the advancement of the execution schedule, and it is impossible to secure the execution time for the advancement print job. It is determined that the schedule cannot be advanced, and this process ends.
[0039]
On the other hand, in step S202, the time required for the extracted print job and the time required for the print job scheduled to be executed next to the target print job to start printing are equal or extracted. If it is determined that the required time of the print job is shorter, in step S205, the print time corresponding to the print job registered in the carry-down matrix and the print job to be carried up with respect to the management time table In step S206, the print start time of the print job to be advanced is re-registered in the management time table so as to be the current time.
[0040]
In step S207, an empty time zone on the management time table is detected in order to rearrange the print jobs registered in the carry-down matrix. If no empty time zone is detected, the management time is determined in step S208. Using the print end time of the print job scheduled to be executed at the end of the table as the print start time, the print job execution schedules registered in the carry-down matrix are sequentially re-registered, and this process ends. Here, the idle time zone refers to a continuous time in which a print execution reservation is not made in the time zone from the first job to the last job registered in the management time table.
[0041]
If a free time zone is detected in step S207, the detected free time zone is compared with the execution time required for the print job registered at the top of the carry-down matrix in step S209, and the print job If it is determined that the required execution time is longer than the detected free time slot, whether or not the schedule for the print job scheduled to be executed next to the detected free time slot can be lowered in step S210. That is, it is determined whether or not the non-executable function detected in step S32 is included in the processing of the print job scheduled to be executed next to the detected free time period. If it is determined that the print job is not included, this print job is excluded from the execution schedule deferral, and the process returns to step S207 to return to the next empty page. Carry out the detection of the time. If it is determined in step S210 that the processing of the print job scheduled to be executed next to the detected free time period includes an inexecutable function, the detection is performed in step S211. The print job scheduled to be executed next to the free time zone is registered at the end of the carry-down matrix, and the print time zone corresponding to this print job is released from the management time table in step S212. Then, the process returns to step S209.
[0042]
If it is determined in step S209 that the execution time required for the print job registered at the head of the carry-down matrix is the same as or shorter than the detected free time zone, the carry-down is carried out in step S213. The print job registered at the head of the queue is deleted from the carry-down queue, and the print start time of this print job is re-registered in the management time table so that it becomes the head time of the free time zone. In step S214, it is checked whether there are other print jobs registered in the carry-down matrix. If it is determined that there are still print jobs registered in the carry-down matrix, the process returns to step S207. If it is determined that there is no print job registered in the carry-down matrix, this process ends. When the rescheduling process ends in this way, the process proceeds to step S105 of the first job extraction process shown in FIG. 7, and the processes after step S105 are performed.
[0043]
Next, as a second job extraction process, the operation of the image forming apparatus that targets a print job with an execution priority that is equal to or higher than the execution priority of the suspended print job as an object to be advanced. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S110, the CPU refers to the management time table, and checks whether there is a print job to be executed after the processing of the interrupted print job is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled for processing immediately after the interrupted print job (step S111). In step S112, it is determined whether or not the job of interest can be executed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32 of FIG. If it is determined that the job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S110 to check whether there is a print job to be executed further behind the job of interest and to execute it immediately after the job of interest. If there is a print job, the process is repeated with the job of interest as the next print job.
[0044]
If it is determined in step S112 that the processing of the job of interest can be executed, the job execution priority is referred to from the attribute information of the job of interest and the suspended print job in step S113, and the job of interest and interruption Compare the execution priority of the print jobs that are running. In other words, if the execution priority of the noticed job is set to be equal to or higher than the execution priority of the suspended print job, in step S114, a re-execution is performed to advance the noticed job execution order. When scheduling processing is performed and the execution priority of the job of interest is set to a value lower than the execution priority of the suspended print job, the process returns to step S110.
[0045]
In step S115, the predicted printing end time of the attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is updated according to the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S114. Notify the notification destination set in the attribute information. This is the end of the second job extraction process. In the second job extraction process, if there is no print job having a priority equal to or higher than the interrupted print job, printing is interrupted and waited. However, if the interrupted state continues for a long time, the efficiency is not good. Therefore, in order to effectively use the printer, the highest priority among the subsequent print jobs may be printed.
[0046]
FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating print job rescheduling processing in the second job extraction processing. First, in step S220, the print job to be noticed as the subject to be deferred is set as a suspended job, and in step S221, the target print job is designated as a job to be deferred from the current execution schedule registered in the management timetable. Register at the tail. In this process when the interrupted job is a print job to which attention is paid, there is no print job registered in the carry-down matrix, so the first print job registered in the carry-down matrix is an interrupted job.
[0047]
In step S222, whether or not the print job to be advanced extracted by the job extraction process can be advanced, that is, from the current time until the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest starts printing. It is determined whether the time required is longer than the time required for the print job to be advanced. If it is determined in step S222 that the time required for the extracted print job is longer, in step S223, the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest is noted as the subject to be deferred. The process returns to step S221 as a print job. In step S221, the target print job is registered at the end of the carry-down matrix as a job to be carried down from the current execution schedule registered in the management time table. In this process, since the suspended job is already registered in the carry-down matrix, it is registered next to the suspended job registered in the carry-down matrix.
[0048]
In step S222, the required time of the extracted print job is equal to the time required for the print job scheduled to be executed next to the print job of interest to start printing, or the extracted print job If it is determined that the required time is shorter, in step S224, the print time zone corresponding to the print job registered in the carry-down matrix is released from the management time table, and in step S225, the target to be advanced The print start time of the print job is re-registered in the management time table so as to be the current time, and in step S226, the print end time of the print job registered in step S225 is set as the print start time in the carry-down matrix. Re-register the execution schedules of registered print jobs sequentially. Note that this sequential re-registration may overlap the print time zone of subsequent print jobs. In this case, the print time zone of the subsequent print job is sequentially lowered.
[0049]
Next, as a third job extraction process, the operation of the image forming apparatus that extracts the job with the earliest predicted process end time from the subsequent reserved print jobs when the print job being executed is suspended. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0050]
First, in step S120, the CPU refers to the management time table and checks whether there is a print job to be executed after the processing of the interrupted print job is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled for processing immediately after the suspended print job (step S121). In step S122, it is determined whether the job of interest can be processed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32 of FIG. If it is determined that the job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S120 to check whether there is a print job to be executed further behind the job of interest and to execute it immediately after the job of interest. If there is a print job, the process is repeated with the job of interest as the next print job.
[0051]
If it is determined in step S122 that the process of the target job can be executed, a rescheduling process is performed in step S123 in order to advance the execution order of the target job. In step S124, according to the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S123, the predicted print end time of the attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is updated. Notify the notification destination set in the attribute information.
[0052]
In the third job extraction process, a print job with the earliest process end time is extracted by determining whether or not there is a next print job in the management time table. This is because the management time table is arranged in order of the processing end time, so that the print job described next to the interrupted print job is the print job with the earliest processing end time.
[0053]
Note that the rescheduling process in the third job extraction process is the same as the flowchart shown in FIG. 14 described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0054]
Next, as a fourth job extraction process, when the print job being executed is suspended, the operation of the image forming apparatus that extracts the job with the shortest required print time from the subsequent reserved print jobs is performed. This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0055]
First, in step S130, among the reserved print jobs, the CPU stores the shortest required time ST (hereinafter also referred to as ST) for storing the shortest required time in seconds, and the shortest required time for storing the print job ID. Each time job SID (hereinafter also referred to as SID) is initialized. The initial value of the shortest required time ST is set to FFFFh which is a sufficiently long time, and 0 which is a numerical value not used as the job ID for the shortest required time job SID. The shortest required time ST and the shortest required time job SID use the area of the memory unit 9.
[0056]
In step S131, the management time table is referenced to check whether there is a print job to be executed after the interrupted print job processing is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled for processing immediately after the suspended print job (step S132). In step S133, it is determined whether or not the job of interest can be processed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32. If it is determined that the job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S131 to check whether there is a print job to be executed further behind the job of interest and to execute it immediately after the job of interest. If there is a print job, the process of step S133 is repeated with the job of interest as the next print job.
[0057]
If it is determined in step S133 that the processing of the job of interest can be executed, the time required for executing the job of interest is calculated in step S134, and the result is set to the job required time JT (hereinafter also referred to as JT). The job ID of the target job is set to the target job ID JID (hereinafter also referred to as JID). These job required time JT and target job ID JID use the area of the memory unit 9.
[0058]
In step S135, it is determined whether the job required time JT is shorter than the shortest required time ST. If it is determined that the job required time JT is shorter than the shortest required time ST, the job required time JT is determined in step S136. The target job ID JID is set in the shortest required time job SID in the shortest required time ST. Thereafter, the process returns to step S131, and this process is repeated until the check for the print job registered at the end of the management time table is completed. If it is determined in step S131 that there is no reserved print job following the job of interest, it is determined in step S137 whether the shortest required time ST is an initial value. When the minimum required time ST is an initial value, there is no print job registered in the management time table in addition to the interrupted print job, or the job extraction condition in the fourth job extraction process is It is determined that there is no matching print job, and this process ends.
[0059]
If it is determined in step S137 that the shortest required time ST is not the initial value, in step S138, the target print job is set to the print job having the job ID indicated by the shortest required time job SID, and the execution order of the target jobs is changed. A rescheduling process is performed in order to advance (step S139). As a result of the rescheduling process in step S139, in step S140, it is determined whether a change has occurred between the predicted print end time set in the attribute information of the job of interest and the print end time registered in the management time table. If it is determined that a change has occurred, the predicted print end time of the attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is updated according to the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S139 (step S139). S141), to that effect is notified to the notification destination set in the attribute information (step S142).
[0060]
The rescheduling process in the fourth job extraction process is the same as that shown in the flowchart of FIG.
[0061]
Next, as a fifth job extraction process, the operation of the image forming apparatus that extracts a job with the smallest print image data amount from the subsequent reserved print jobs when the print job being executed is suspended. Will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S150, the CPU stores a minimum image data amount PDSmin (hereinafter also referred to as PDSmin) for storing a minimum image data amount in bytes among reserved print jobs, and a print job ID thereof. Minimum image data job IDmin (hereinafter also referred to as IDmin) In addition, a checked ID table that stores the ID of a print job to be advanced during rescheduling processing is initialized. The initial value of PDSmin is set to 1000000h which is a sufficiently large data amount, and IDmin is set to 0 which is a numerical value not used as a job ID. Further, these PDSmin, IDmin, and checked ID table use areas of the memory unit 9.
[0062]
In step S151, the management time table is referenced to check whether there is a print job to be executed after the interrupted print job processing is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled for processing immediately after the interrupted print job (step S152). In step S153, it is determined whether the job of interest can be processed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32 of FIG. If it is determined that the job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S151 to check whether there is a print job to be executed further behind the job of interest and to execute it immediately after the job of interest. If there is a print job, the process is repeated with the job of interest as the next print job.
[0063]
If it is determined in step S153 that the process of the target job can be executed, it is determined in step S154 whether the job ID of the target job is registered in the checked ID table, and the target ID is checked. If the job ID of the job is registered, the process returns to step S151. Then, the processing from step S151 to step S154 is repeated. On the other hand, if the job ID of the job of interest is not registered in the checked ID table, the image data amount is referred to from the attribute information of the job of interest in step S155, and this is referred to as job data amount JPDS (hereinafter also referred to as JPDS). And the job ID of the target job is set to the target job ID JID (hereinafter also referred to as JID). These JPDS and target job ID JID use an area of the memory unit 9.
[0064]
In step S156, it is determined whether JPDS is smaller than PDSmin. If it is determined that JPDS is smaller than PDSmin, JPDS is set in PDSmin and JID is set in IDmin in step S157. Thereafter, the process returns to step S151, and this process is repeated until the check for the print job registered at the end of the management time table is completed.
[0065]
If it is determined in step S151 that there is no reserved print job subsequent to the job of interest, it is determined in step S158 whether PDSmin is an initial value. When PDSmin is the initial value, there is no print job registered in the management time table in addition to the interrupted print job, or printing that matches the job extraction condition in the fifth job extraction process It is determined that there is no job, and this process ends.
[0066]
If it is determined in step S158 that PDSmin is not the initial value, a rescheduling process is performed in step S159 so that the print job of interest is a print job having the job ID indicated by IDmin and the execution order of the job of interest is advanced. This is performed (step S160).
[0067]
As a result of the rescheduling process in step S160, in step S161, the print end time of the print job registered in the management time table and the predicted print end time set in the attribute information corresponding to these print jobs. Whether or not a change has occurred is determined. If it is determined that a change has occurred, prediction of attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is performed according to the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S160. The print end time is updated (step S163), and a notification to that effect is sent to the notification destination set in the attribute information (step S164).
[0068]
In step S161, it is determined that there is no change between the print end time of the print job registered in the management time table and the predicted print end time set in the attribute information corresponding to each print job. If the result of the rescheduling process in step S160 determines that the execution schedule of the target job has not been advanced, the job ID of the target job is registered in the checked ID table in step S162, and the next advance candidate In order to extract a print job, the process returns to step S150, and the above-described processing is repeated to extract a print job having the second largest print image data amount.
[0069]
The rescheduling process in the fifth job extraction process is the same as that in the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0070]
Next, as a sixth job extraction process, an operation of the image forming apparatus that extracts a job having the largest print image data amount from the subsequent reserved print jobs when the print job being executed is suspended. Will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, in step S170, the CPU stores the maximum image data amount PDSmax (hereinafter also referred to as PDSmax) for storing the maximum image data amount in bytes among the reserved print jobs, and the print job ID. A checked ID table that stores the maximum image data job IDmax (hereinafter also referred to as IDmax) and the ID of the print job to be advanced during the rescheduling process is initialized. The initial value of PDSmax is 0, which is a sufficiently small data amount, and IDmax is 0, which is a numerical value that is not used as a job ID. Further, these PDSmax, IDmax, and checked ID tables use areas of the memory unit 9.
[0071]
In step S171, the management time table is referenced to check whether there is a print job to be executed after the interrupted print job processing is completed. If there is a print job to be executed, the target print job is set as a print job scheduled to be processed immediately after the interrupted print job (step S172). In step S173, it is determined whether or not the job of interest can be executed from the print data attribute of the job of interest and the inexecutable function detected in step S32 of FIG. If it is determined that the job cannot be executed, the process returns to step S171 to check whether there is a print job to be executed further behind the job of interest and to execute the job immediately after the job of interest. If there is a print job, the process is repeated with the job of interest as the next print job.
[0072]
If it is determined in step S173 that the job of interest can be processed, it is determined in step S174 whether the job ID of the job of interest is registered in the checked ID table. If the job ID of the job is registered, the process returns to step S171. Then, the processing from step S171 to step S174 is repeated. On the other hand, if the job ID of the job of interest is not registered in the checked ID table, the image data amount is referred to from the attribute information of the job of interest in step S175, and this is referred to as job data amount JPDS (hereinafter also referred to as JPDS). And the job ID of the target job is set to the target job ID JID (hereinafter also referred to as JID). These JPDS and JID use the area of the memory unit 9.
[0073]
In step S176, it is determined whether JPDS is greater than PDSmax. If it is determined that JPDS is greater than PDSmax, JPDS is set to PDSmax and JID is set to IDmax in step S177. Thereafter, the process returns to step S171, and this process is repeated until the check for the print job registered at the end of the management time table is completed.
[0074]
If it is determined in step S171 that there is no reserved print job subsequent to the job of interest, it is determined in step S178 whether PDSmax is an initial value. If PDSmax is the initial value, there is no print job registered in the management time table in addition to the interrupted print job, or printing that matches the job extraction conditions in the sixth job extraction process It is determined that there is no job, and this process ends.
[0075]
If it is determined in step S178 that PDSmax is not the initial value, a rescheduling process is performed in step S179 so that the print job of interest is the print job having the job ID indicated by IDmax and the execution order of the job of interest is advanced. This is performed (step S180).
[0076]
As a result of the rescheduling process in step S180, the predicted print end time of the print job registered in the management time table in step S181 and the predicted print end time set in the respective attribute information corresponding to these print jobs. Whether or not a change has occurred is determined. If it is determined that a change has occurred, prediction of attribute information corresponding to the print job in which the change has occurred is performed according to the management time table changed in the rescheduling process in step S180. The print end time is updated (step S183), and notification to that effect is sent to the notification destination set in the attribute information (step S184).
[0077]
In step S181, it is determined that there is no change between the print end time of the print job registered in the management time table and the predicted print end time set in each attribute information corresponding to the print job. If the result of the rescheduling process in step S180 determines that the execution schedule of the target job has not been advanced, the job ID of the target job is registered in the checked ID table in step S182, and the next advance candidate is determined. In order to extract a print job to be returned to step S170, the above-described processing is repeated.
[0078]
The rescheduling process in the sixth job extraction process is the same as that in the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0079]
The first to sixth job extraction processes described above may perform job extraction using any one of the first to sixth job extraction processes, or two or more job extraction processes in advance. The job may be extracted by performing job extraction processing in descending order of priority. Further, the present invention is not limited to the job extraction process described above, and for example, all reserved print jobs that do not include the print condition detected by the unprintable condition search unit may be extracted.
[Effects of First Embodiment] According to the first embodiment described above, even if a print job being executed is suspended, the processing of the subsequent reserved print job is advanced, and the issuer of the advanced print job is issued. On the other hand, since the fact is notified, the problem that the output document is left on the output tray of the apparatus for a long time and seen or lost by another person is solved.
[0080]
Further, according to the first embodiment, even if a print job being executed is interrupted, the print job processing that can be executed during that time is extracted under various conditions, and the processing is executed. The operating efficiency of the forming apparatus can be improved.
[0081]
[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, the case where the print job is interrupted has been described. However, in the present embodiment, a process when the print job is canceled will be described. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a block diagram showing an example of attribute information shown in FIG. 2, a diagram showing a configuration example of a management time table shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. Since the flowchart at the time of print reservation shown is the same in the second embodiment, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0082]
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of attribute information in the second embodiment. In FIG. 16, components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The attribute information of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 16 is different from the attribute information of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3 because there is information on the print execution priority 105 in FIG. For the sake of simplicity, the information regarding the print execution priority 105 is omitted. The other information is the same as that shown in FIG.
[0083]
FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram for processing cancellation of a print job of the image forming apparatus which is a main part of the second embodiment. In FIG. 20, components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 15 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The image forming apparatus 4 according to the present embodiment prints a print job received together with image data when a print job to be processed using the image copying function, the facsimile function, or the printer function is received from the computers 10, 11, and 12. The required time calculation unit 21 that calculates the time required for image printing based on the attribute information created from the conditions and the like, and the processing capability for the printing conditions, the printing time calculated by the required time calculation unit 21, and the current printing The end time predicting unit 22 that predicts the processing end time of the received print job from the status of the job or the print job reserved in advance, and the end time that stores the processing end time predicted by the end time predicting unit 22 A storage unit (memory unit 9) and an end time notification unit 23 that notifies a predetermined notification destination of the processing end time predicted by the end time prediction unit 22. A print job cancel receiving unit 51 that receives a cancel of a print job currently being processed or a previously reserved print job, and a cancel of a print job reserved in advance by the print job cancel receiving unit 51 Thus, the end time re-prediction unit 52 that re-predicts the processing end time of the print job predicted for the subsequent print job, and the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit 52 are predicted in advance and the end time is stored. When the processing end time stored in the unit (memory unit 9) is different from the processing end time, the predicted time updating unit updates the processing end time stored in the end time storage unit to the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit. 53 and an end time change notification unit 54 for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the updated processing end time.
[0084]
FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of executing a reserved print job in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. First, in step S301, a check is made as to whether or not a print job registered in the management time table has been cancelled, and processing in the case where the cancel has been performed is performed. This step S301 process will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. In step S302, the current time is read by a clocking means such as a clock IC included in the apparatus, and in step S303, a print job to be started corresponding to the read current time is searched from the management time table. In step S304, it is determined whether there is a print job to be started in step S303. If there is no print job to be started, that is, if there is no print job having a start time that matches the current time, the process returns to step S301 again. If there is a print job to be started, the process proceeds to step S305 to start the print job. In step S306, it is determined whether printing has been completed. If the printing has been completed, the data is deleted from the management time table in step S307, and this flow is terminated.
[0085]
FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating processing when a job cancel check or a print job is canceled. In step S311, it is determined whether or not the print job has been cancelled. If it is determined that the job has not been cancelled, this process ends. The print job is canceled by pressing a cancel key arranged on the MMI unit 3 or an operation from the computers 10 to 12. If it is determined in step S311 that the print job has been canceled, in step S312, the print job to be canceled is deleted from the management time table. In step S313, it is determined whether or not there is a subsequent reserved print job in the canceled print job. If it is determined that there is no subsequent reserved print job, this process ends. If it is determined that there is a subsequent reserved print job, the target print job is changed to the subsequent reserved print job, and in step S314, the attribute information of the target print job is referred to, and the print end time is specified. If it is determined that the print end time is designated, the process returns to step S313.
[0086]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S314 that the print end time is not specified for the print job of interest, rescheduling processing is performed in step S315.
Here, the rescheduling process is a scheduling process for efficiently using a time vacancy in the management time table caused by canceling a print job for executing a subsequent reserved print job. The rescheduling process will be described in detail later. In step S316, as a result of rescheduling, it is determined whether the print time of the target print job is earlier than the print time determined at the time of registration. If not, the process returns to step S313. If it is determined in step S316 that the print time of the noticed print job is earlier than the print time determined at the time of registration, the notice print job is re-registered in the management time table at the print time determined by the rescheduling process. At the same time (step S317), the predicted print end time of the attribute information is updated (step S318), and the fact is notified to the destination specified in the attribute information (step S319). The processing from step S313 is repeated until there is no subsequent reserved print job. When there is no subsequent reserved print job, this process ends.
[0087]
FIG. 19 is a flowchart of print job rescheduling processing according to the second embodiment. First, in step S3151, it is determined whether or not there is a print job reserved in advance compared to the target print job in step S314 in FIG. 18, and if it is determined that there is no print job reserved in advance, In step S3155, the current time is set as a printable time, and the process is terminated. Accordingly, the process proceeds to step S316 in FIG. 18, and the print job of interest can be immediately printed. If it is determined in step S3151 that there is a print job reserved in advance, in step S3152, the management time table is referred to, and the print job of interest in the time zone after the print job currently being executed. It is determined whether or not there is a free time zone in which printing processing is not performed in a time zone earlier than the execution time of, and if it is determined that there is no free time zone, this processing is terminated.
[0088]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3152 that there is a vacant time zone, it is determined in step S3153 whether the time required for processing the attention print job is shorter than the vacant time zone, that is, the attention print job is Then, it is determined whether or not the job can be executed in an empty time zone without overlapping with the advance reservation print job. If it is determined that the job can overlap with the advance reservation print job, the process returns to step S3152 to search for the next empty time. . If it is determined in step S3153 that the target print job can be executed in an empty time zone, the start time of the empty time zone is set as the printable start time of the target print job in step S3154, and the process ends. To do.
[Effects of Second Embodiment] According to the second embodiment described above, a change is made when the printing of a subsequent print job ends at a time earlier than the printing end time originally notified by canceling the preceding print job. Since the print end time is notified again, it is possible for the issuer of the subsequent print job to recognize that fact, and the output document is left in the output tray of the device for a long time and can be seen by others or lost. The problem of doing so is solved.
[0089]
In addition, according to the second embodiment, when a registered print job is canceled, the subsequent executable print job is extracted and the printing process is executed, thereby improving the operation efficiency of the image forming apparatus. You can make it.
Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist. For example, in the second embodiment, the case where the print execution priority is omitted has been described. However, in the second embodiment, the print job may be processed in consideration of the print execution priority. Conversely, the execution priority of the first embodiment can be omitted.
[0090]
In the above embodiment, the case where the print job is interrupted and the case where the print job is canceled have been described separately. However, the present invention relates to a case where the print job is interrupted and a case where the print job is canceled. Both of them may be processed.
[0091]
In each of the above embodiments, the end time prediction unit does not predict the print end time in consideration of the execution priority in order to simplify the description, but the end time prediction unit takes into consideration the execution priority. Thus, the print end time may be predicted.
[0092]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the computer has the processing end time setting unit has been described. However, the processing end time setting unit may be provided on the image forming apparatus side, or both the computer and the image forming apparatus. You may make it provide. Further, this processing end time setting unit can be omitted.
[0093]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even if an ongoing print job is suspended, the processing of the subsequent reserved print job is advanced and a notice is given to the issuer of the advanced print job. This solves the problem that the output document is left on the output tray of the apparatus for a long time and is seen or lost by others. In addition, even if a print job being executed is interrupted, it is possible to improve the operation efficiency of the image forming apparatus by extracting the print job processing that can be executed in the meantime under various conditions and executing the processing. it can.
[0094]
In addition, according to the present invention, when the preceding print job is canceled and the printing is finished at a time earlier than the printing end time originally notified by the subsequent print job, the changed print end time is notified again. Therefore, the issuer of the subsequent print job can recognize this fact, and the problem that the output document is left in the output tray of the apparatus for a long time and is seen by others or lost can be solved. In addition, when a registered print job is canceled, it is possible to improve the operation efficiency of the image forming apparatus by extracting a subsequent executable print job and executing a print process.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a core unit 5 according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of attribute information in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a management time table according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart at the time of print reservation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart at the start of printing of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of first job extraction processing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart of second job extraction processing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of third job extraction processing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a fourth job extraction process in the first embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of fifth job extraction processing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart of sixth job extraction processing in the first embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart of rescheduling processing in the first, fourth, fifth, and sixth extraction processing of the first embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a flowchart of rescheduling processing in the second and third extraction processing according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a functional block diagram for processing interruption of a print job of the image forming apparatus which is a main part of the first embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of attribute information in the second embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a printing start flowchart of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a flowchart when a job cancellation occurs in the second embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a flowchart of print job rescheduling processing according to the second embodiment;
FIG. 20 is a functional block diagram for processing cancellation of a print job of an image forming apparatus that is a main part of the second embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Reader section
2 Printer section
3 MMI Department
4 Image processing section
5 Core part
6 Facsimile Department
7 Network I / F section
8 Formatter section
9 Memory part
21 Time required calculator
22 End time prediction part
23 End time notification section
24 Processing interruption detection unit
25 Print job interruption notification section
26 Unprintable condition detector
27 Reserved job extractor
28 End time re-prediction unit
29 End time update section
30 End time change notification section
41 Processing end time setting section
42 Execution priority setting means
51 Print Job Cancel Reception Section
52 End time re-prediction unit
53 End time update section
54 End time change notification section

Claims (15)

An image forming apparatus including at least one of an image copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and when a print job to be processed using the function is received, a print job to be received together with the image data A required time calculating means for calculating a time required for image printing based on attribute information created from the printing conditions and the like and a processing capability for the printing conditions; an end time predicting means for predicting the processing end time of the received print job; An image forming apparatus comprising: an end time storage unit that stores a process end time predicted by the end time prediction unit; and a process end time notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of the process end time predicted by the end time prediction unit. In the device
A process interruption detection means for detecting that the currently processed print job is interrupted;
An end time re-prediction unit that re-predicts the predicted processing end time of the reserved print job for a subsequent reserved print job when the process interruption detection unit detects a print job interruption;
When the process end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit is different from the process end time stored in the end time storage unit, the process end time stored in the end time storage unit is changed to the end time. End time update means for updating to the process end time predicted by the time re-prediction means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an end time re-notification unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of the processing end time updated by the end time update unit. A print job interruption notification means for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the interruption of the print job when the processing interruption detection means detects the interruption of the print job;
A non-printable condition detection unit that detects a print condition that cannot be executed when the process interruption detection unit detects a print job interruption;
When the processing interruption detection unit detects a print job interruption, a reserved print job that does not include the printing condition detected by the non-printable condition detection unit is extracted from the attribute information of the print job reserved after that. A reserved job extracting means,
2. The image according to claim 1, wherein the end time re-prediction unit re-predicts the predicted processing end time of the reserved print job for the reserved print job extracted by the reserved job extraction unit. Forming equipment. The issuer of the print job includes a process end time setting unit that sets a process end time for the print job to be issued, and the end time predicting unit considers the process end time set by the process end time setting unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing end time is predicted. When the process end time is set by the process end time setting means, a print time zone required for printing specified from the set process end time and the print time calculated by the required time calculation means is preceded. Print job invalidation notification that disables acceptance of a print job and notifies a predetermined notification destination when it overlaps with part or all of the print time period during which the reserved print job is processed 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means. 5. The print job in which the processing end time of the print job set by the processing end time setting unit is excluded from the print job extraction target by the reserved job extracting unit. Image forming apparatus. At least one of the print job issuer and the image forming apparatus includes an execution priority setting unit that sets an execution priority of print processing for the print job, and the reserved job extraction unit detects the unprintable condition detection Among the reserved print jobs that do not include the print conditions detected by the means, a print job having an execution priority equal to or higher than the execution priority of the suspended print job is extracted with priority. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5. The reserved job extracting means is the reserved print job having the earliest print processing end time stored in the end time storage means among the reserved print jobs not including the print condition detected by the unprintable condition detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein extraction is performed with priority. The reserved job extracting unit gives priority to the reserved print job having the shortest printing time calculated by the required time calculating unit among the reserved print jobs not including the printing condition detected by the unprintable condition detecting unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus extracts the image. The reserved job extracting unit preferentially extracts a reserved print job having the smallest accumulated image data amount among reserved print jobs not including the print condition detected by the unprintable condition detecting unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 6. The reserved job extracting unit preferentially extracts a reserved print job having the largest stored image data amount among reserved print jobs not including the print condition detected by the unprintable condition detecting unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. 7. The reserved job extracting unit extracts all reserved print jobs that do not include the printing condition detected by the non-printable condition detecting unit. Image forming apparatus. An image forming apparatus including at least one of an image copying function, a facsimile function, and a printer function, and when a print job to be processed using the function is received, a print job to be received together with the image data Required time calculation means for calculating the time required for image printing based on attribute information created from the printing conditions and the like, and the processing capability for the printing conditions, the printing time calculated by the required time calculation means, and the current printing An end time predicting unit that predicts the processing end time of the received print job from the status of the job or a print job reserved in advance, and an end time storage that stores the processing end time predicted by the end time predicting unit And a process end time notifying unit for notifying a predetermined notification destination of the process end time predicted by the end time predicting unit. In the image forming apparatus,
A print job cancel receiving means for receiving a cancel of a print job currently being processed or a print job reserved in advance;
An end time re-prediction unit that re-predicts the predicted processing end time of the print job for a subsequent print job by receiving cancellation of the print job reserved in advance by the print job cancel reception unit;
When the process end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit is different from the process end time stored in the end time storage unit, the process end time stored in the end time storage unit is changed to the end time re-prediction unit. Predicted time update means for updating to the process end time predicted by
An image forming apparatus comprising: an end time change notifying unit that notifies a predetermined notification destination of the processing end time predicted by the end time re-prediction unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the end time re-prediction unit re-predicts the process end time for all print jobs reserved after the canceled print job. The issuer of the print job includes a process end time setting means for setting a process end time of a desired print job when issuing the print job, and the print job in which the process end time of the print job is set is 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the end time reprediction unit excludes the print job end time from being repredicted. When accepting the reservation of the print job, the print time zone required for printing specified from the processing end time and the print time set by the issuer is a part or all of the print time zone of the print job reserved in advance The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: a print job invalidity notification unit that invalidates the reception of a print job and notifies a predetermined notification destination of the print job reception.

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